Monday, July 8, 2013

Sustainable Farming & Foods

Weekly Events & Opportunities

Grain Place Foods - Farm Tour & Summer Seminar

July
13. Marquette. Every year The Grain Place (the Vetter family farm) and
Grain Place Foods hosts the Farm Tour & Summer Seminar for anyone
interested in organic farming, the organic food industry, and
sustainable agriculture in general. Participants are guided by The Grain
Place farm manager Mike Herman on a tour of the farm, learning and
sharing ideas about various organic growing practices. Grain Place Foods
President Dave Vetter leads the tour through the plant, showing how all
the various certified organic grains and seeds are processed and
packaged. Click here for more information.
http://www.grainplacefoods.com/in-the-news/grain-place-news/latest-news/

Residue Sampling and Responding to Test Results

July
9 and 11. Online. IOIA Residue Sampling and Responding to Test Results
Webinar is an intermediate 200 level course. This webinar will prepare
inspectors and certifiers to
comply with the requirements of the USDA National Organic Program final
rule on residue sampling. The course will cover the sampling of organic
crops before and after harvest. References to information on sampling
soil and water will also be provided. The course is geared for persons
with an understanding of NOP Standards and organic inspection or
certification review. This course is comprised of 3 components:
self-study, webinar, and evaluation. http://www.ioia.net/schedule_web.html#residue

Marketing and Managing Grass and Grain-Fed Beef

July
11. Princeton, Iowa. At this Practical Farmers of Iowa field day, Neal
Sawyer of Sawyer Beef will discuss his management systems, factors that
influence how he makes decisions, as well as marketing the farm has
done. Attendees will learn about grazing management and producing and
marketing quality beef. If weather permits, the day will also feature a
trip to the Sawyers' pastures. http://practicalfarmers.org/events_detail.php?eid=547

July
11. Online. Pollinators and other beneficial insects help ensure
healthy crop harvests. Participate in this webinar to learn how to
support pollinators and natural enemies of crop pests (predators and
parasitoids) by providing diverse habitat and protection from
pesticides. This webinar highlights research showing how diverse habitat
adjacent to cropland supports improved pollination and reduces pest
pressure. This webinar is sponsored by the USDA NRCS East National
Technology Support Center. http://www.conservationwebinars.net/webinars/farming-for-beneficial-insects-pollinators-predators-and-parasitoids

Weed, Pest and Disease Management Workshop

July
13. Kansas City, Kansas. This Growing Growers workshop will equip
farmers and soon-to-be farmers with strategies to combat problems that
damage your crop, hurt yields, and drive you to insanity. The presenters
will have a strong focus on organic and environmentally friendly ways
to keep the plagues under control, so come prepared to soak up detailed
and invaluable information. After lunch, the second portion of the
workshop will be walking Gibbs Rd Farm (aka Cultivate KC farm) learning
about their operation and how they combat the three plagues. http://www.growinggrowers.com/growing-growers-workshops

Ecoinformatics and the Paleo-World: Climate Change and Vegetation Response at Large Temporal and Spa

July
11th. 6pm Central. Many backyard flock owners are producing more eggs
than they can eat and are considering selling the extras. Those with
larger flocks often sell eggs in the Farmers' Market. This webinar will
discuss the safe handling of eggs from production to the table. The
presenter is Dr. Jacquie Jacob at the University of Kentucky. She has
several years of poultry extension experience working with small and
backyard poultry producers. https://connect.extension.iastate.edu/poultry

Landowner Habitat Tours

July
9 & 11th. Broken Bow, Hartington, Chardon State Park, North Platte
& McCook. Making your farm or ranch operation work with wildlife.
For more tour details and to register, please visit: www.NebraskaPF.com or call 308-850-8404

Saturday,
July 13th, 10:00AM. Create your own solar oven and learn more about
cooking and baking in the sun. Community CROPS Director Ingrid Kirst
will walk you through the process of creating your own solar oven
(supplies included in the class fee) and provide instruction on this fun
and easy cooking method. Keep your house cool, reduce your energy
costs, and reduce your carbon footprint with a solar oven!
http://www.communitycrops.org/workshops

Upcoming

Practical Management of Cover Crops Webinar

July
18. This webinar is presented by Tim Reinbott, University of Missouri
Superintendent of Bradford Research Center. To join at 2 pm, log in at